JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. - A Centennial man convicted in connection with a scheme that defrauded people in 22 states was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this week.

In December, a jury found Brent Evan Widdifield guilty of multiple theft counts and a violation of his bail bond conditions. It was a total of four felonies, according to Jefferson and Gilpin County District Attorney spokeswoman Pam Russell.

Russell said Widdifield did business as Action Steel Buildings. It started as a legitimate business advertising the sale of steel buildings in newspapers and online, but Russell said it deteriorated into fraud by 2009.

Widdifield was convicted of taking money from 42 victims for building kits that were never delivered. Russell said each of the victims lived out of state and he required wire transfer of the payment.

Thirty-two of the victims testified during Widdifield's trial.

Widdifield was originally charged with theft and allowed out on bond, but Russell said he continued to accept payments for building kits that were never delivered. As a result, an additional theft charge and the violation of bail bond conditions charges were added.

The money he collected, more than $300,000, was used for Widdifield's personal expenses, according to court documents. Some of it was used in Colorado casinos.

Russell said that at Widdifield's sentencing District Judge Phil McNulty said the deception was particularly aggravated because it targeted military families, offering them a 5 percent discount for a product he never intended to deliver.